Written Answers Thursday 6 October 2005

Scottish Executive

Autism

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the opinion of the Chairman of the National Autistic Society that the Murtle option for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route "would jeopardise the work of Scotland’s centres of excellence for some of the most vulnerable members of our society".

Tavish Scott: My officials have tried on several occasions to make contact with the society to discuss and explain the emerging proposals but as yet the society has not responded. We have arranged a meeting with the Scottish Society for Autism.

Civil Service

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-17705 by Mr Tom McCabe on 3 August 2005, what percentage of civil service jobs were located in each of Scotland’s cities in each year since 1999, expressed also as a percentage of each city’s population.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information requested is shown in the following tables and is calculated on the basis of the number of permanent staff (full-time equivalent) at 1 April of each year in the core departments, associated departments and agencies within the Scottish Executive administration.

  This information does not include details of civil service posts in other Government Departments located in Scotland, which are not held by the Scottish Executive.

  Percentage of civil service jobs at 1 April of each year in the Scottish Executive’s administration which are located in each of Scotland’s cities:

  

 
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005


Aberdeen
3.6%
3.4%
3.6%
3.7%
3.6%
3.8%
3.6%


Dundee
0.8%
0.8%
0.9%
0.9%
0.8%
1.0%
1.1%


Edinburgh
46.0%
45.9%
46.8%
47.6%
48.4%
48.9%
49.3%


Glasgow
11.7%
12.1%
12.5%
12.8%
12.8%
13.0%
13.2%


Inverness
1.3%
1.3%
1.4%
1.3%
1.3%
1.4%
1.3%


Stirling
2.6%
2.4%
2.4%
2.6%
2.4%
2.3%
2.3%



  Civil service jobs at 1 April of each year in the Scottish Executive’s administration as a percentage of the population of the city in which they are located:

  

 
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005


Aberdeen
0.3%
0.3%
0.3%
0.3%
0.3%
0.3%
0.3%


Dundee
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%


Edinburgh
1.5%
1.5%
1.5%
1.6%
1.7%
1.7%
1.8%


Glasgow
0.3%
0.3%
0.3%
0.3%
0.3%
0.3%
0.4%


Inverness
0.5%
0.5%
0.5%
0.5%
0.5%
0.5%
0.5%


Stirling
1.1%
1.1%
1.1%
1.2%
1.1%
1.1%
1.1%

Education

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what facilities exist within mainstream education to support children suffering from dyspraxia.

Peter Peacock: Most mainstream schools have a unit or base within the school which would contribute to the support of children who have additional support needs, including dyspraxia.

Emergency Planning

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that there is no repeat of the loss of life that occurred during the January 2005 storm on South Uist.

Hugh Henry: The Scottish Executive is committed to improving Scotland’s ability to cope with any emergency. That is why we are investing in our front line services and acting to strengthen the eight regional emergency co-ordination and planning groups which co-ordinate emergency response on the ground. Regulations which will come into force in November under the Civil Contingencies Act will place additional duties on local responders to co-ordinate emergency planning.

  We recognise that extreme weather events are a serious threat. Actions we are taking Scotland-wide to counter the threat include:

  A multi-agency Flooding Issues Advisory Committee are considering strategies for flood warning dissemination, data collection, prioritisation of flood prevention schemes, legislative changes, sustainable flood management and land use issues;

  We are commissioning a review of emergency communication systems in the light of the problems with the mobile network during the January 2005 storms;

  Consideration of transport-related recommendations from the Climate Change Studies Report and the Landslides Study Report including amongst others consideration of coastal flooding when developing new road designs, identification of locations on the road network susceptible to coastal flooding and the use of Variable Message Sign network, and

  We are following up suggestions made at a conference of emergency planners organised by the Executive in May to consider the extreme weather threat.

  In view of the exceptional nature of the damage inflicted on the Western Isles by the January storms, the Executive is making available to the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar a significant package of additional funding amounting to £9 million. This includes support for roads infrastructure, a primary school and civil contingencies works including the purchase of a mobile command vehicle and mobile IT and communications equipment that the council identified as a priority area for its emergency planning.

Emergency Planning

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the documents known as "sleeping scripts", referred to in UK Health Departments’ UK Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan, to be published by NHS 24 to provide advice to patients in the event of an influenza pandemic and how frequently such scripts will be reviewed.

Mr Andy Kerr: Emergency protocols, or "sleeping scripts" as referred to in the UK Health Departments UK Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan, are now available and are currently being developed for use in Scotland. This information will be will be kept under review.

Enterprise

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to bring economic benefits from greater use of the River Forth between Grangemouth and Stirling.

Tavish Scott: A recent study was undertaken to identify strategic opportunities to re-invigorate the upper River Forth by encouraging recreational and possibly commercial freight boat use and associated linkages with the Forth and Clyde canal. This study was commissioned by British Waterways, Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley and the relevant councils.

Equal Opportunities

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how the £0.75 million funding will be spent to support older people and tackle age discrimination, as set out on page 115 of the Draft Budget 2006-07.

Malcolm Chisholm: The specific allocation of these funds is yet to be determined. However, we intend to use these resources to add to the existing work being undertaken on older people’s issues, in particular around, supporting older people to engage, developing a Strategy for Scotland’s Ageing Population, work around age discrimination and the proposed Commission for Equality and Human Rights.

Finance

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will produce the baseline and output measures required to enable the appraisal and audit of the effectiveness of its efficient government plan, in line with the recommendations of Professor Arthur Midwinter.

Mr Tom McCabe: I answered this question last week during my discussion with the Finance Committee on Efficient Government, but I am happy to restate my answer for Parliament. As Audit Scotland said in their letter of 10 August to Peter Russell, Head of Efficient Government Delivery Group:

  "It is important to recognise, however, that the relationships between inputs and outputs in the public sector can be complex; in particular it is often difficult to identify and measure outputs from public goods. In these circumstances the costs associated with the development and maintenance of detailed measurement and monitoring systems can outweigh any associated benefit."

  I have told the committee that I will not take us along the road of developing measuring and monitoring systems that outweigh the benefits of the efficiency programme. We are in dialogue with Audit Scotland to work out a means by which we can assert (with appropriate evidence) what we believe has been achieved in a year in terms that will allow Audit Scotland to review that assertion. We do not want unnecessary bureaucracy, but we do want to try to demonstrate as far as we can where savings have been generated and what they have effected in terms of service to individuals in the community.

Justice

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many arrest warrants issued by Glasgow District Court and Glasgow Sheriff Court are currently unexecuted.

Cathy Jamieson: Strathclyde Police advise that the total number of apprehension warrants for Glasgow at 20 September 2005 is 2,285.

  We expect the police to prioritise arrest warrants and to endeavour to execute them as quickly as possible, particularly if the alleged actions of the accused are serious.

  Work on Service Level Agreements - to ensure fast, accurate and workable practices in relation to the whole process of warrants execution - is currently being taken forward by the National Criminal Justice Board. It will review the warrants processes, including the timescales for the various stages of the processes, while recognising that some warrants should be given higher priority than others.

Justice

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases were processed in each sheriff court in each of the last five years.

Cathy Jamieson: Sheriff courts handle a range of civil and criminal business, but the largest component of it is summary criminal cases. The number of summary criminal cases concluded in each sheriff court in each of the last five financial years is shown in the following table.

  Summary Cases Concluded

  

Court
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05


Aberdeen
4,487
5,133
6,020
6,655
5,567


Airdrie
2,469
2,788
3,241
3,681
3,547


Alloa
635
772
945
1,108
1,338


Arbroath
1,014
1,153
1,289
1,515
1,175


Ayr
3,349
3,153
3,682
3,579
3,550


Banff
455
579
512
571
392


Campbeltown
207
189
225
256
292


Cupar
560
705
727
695
690


Dingwall
405
397
448
572
518


Dornoch
110
159
125
175
137


Dumbarton
2,476
2,446
2,405
2,840
2,850


Dumfries
2,051
1,895
2,277
2,410
2,896


Dundee
3,987
4,598
4,627
5,747
4,800


Dunfermline
1,661
1,935
2,226
2,354
2,025


Dunoon
383
404
399
435
449


Edinburgh
9,866
9,942
10,587
10,682
10,366


Elgin
992
1,058
1,139
1,360
1,420


Falkirk
2,730
2,919
3,557
3,271
3,185


Forfar
640
721
872
971
904


Fort William
322
357
346
406
447


Glasgow
11,585
12,600
13,073
11,331
11,542


Greenock
2,024
1,973
2,491
2,427
2,291


Haddington
799
856
1,070
1,029
976


Hamilton
5,027
5,629
7,185
6,805
7,102


Inverness
1,484
1,954
2,010
2,203
2,265


Jedburgh/Duns
512
678
761
848
997


Kilmarnock
3,551
3,934
3,812
4,632
4,881


Kirkcaldy
2,283
2,439
2,751
2,849
3,006


Kirkcudbright
283
235
351
370
338


Kirkwall
247
217
238
258
239


Lanark
995
1,171
1,106
1,202
1,345


Lerwick
303
269
290
401
382


Linlithgow
2,579
2,831
3,081
2,544
2,474


Lochmaddy
87
78
73
71
99


Oban
358
377
329
409
387


Paisley
3,536
3,359
3,817
4,394
4,083


Peebles
155
194
220
204
188


Perth
1,722
2,203
2,229
2,909
2,832


Peterhead
654
784
876
845
996


Portree
58
69
92
101
109


Rothesay
116
163
171
175
194


Selkirk
362
547
595
634
647


Stirling
1,501
1,796
2,035
2,232
2,281


Stonehaven
487
543
536
581
391


Stornoway
195
222
246
302
269


Stranraer
1,008
958
897
969
1,136


Tain
409
480
550
519
539


Wick
300
342
431
491
340


Total
81,419
88,204
96,965
101,018
98,877

Justice

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases were subject to a continuance in each sheriff court in each of the last five years and what the average duration of a continuance was.

Cathy Jamieson: Sheriff courts handle a range of civil and criminal business, but the largest component of it is summary criminal cases. Summary cases are often subject to a number of procedural steps. The number of summary cases which were concluded after a second or subsequent trial is shown for each sheriff court for each of the last five financial years in the following table. Information on the average duration of a continuation is not held centrally.

  Number of Summary Cases Concluded at 2nd or Subsequent Trial Diet

  

Court
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05


Aberdeen
110
190
251
331
232


Airdrie
224
300
390
361
415


Alloa
67
93
112
131
137


Arbroath
64
66
78
77
84


Ayr
164
186
166
186
235


Banff
29
39
38
30
29


Campbeltown
16
23
20
18
18


Cupar
39
52
70
47
43


Dingwall
19
29
23
30
41


Dornoch
8
13
10
21
8


Dumbarton
249
362
315
451
415


Dumfries
74
80
59
80
72


Dundee
301
442
438
503
579


Dunfermline
94
87
146
88
76


Dunoon
39
52
53
65
79


Edinburgh
888
757
791
608
640


Elgin
71
103
105
117
144


Falkirk
174
196
372
214
160


Forfar
24
35
53
34
33


Fort William
25
31
21
23
34


Glasgow
1,767
2,066
2,356
2,439
2,097


Greenock
72
99
153
183
185


Haddington
64
63
71
88
80


Hamilton
690
694
1,052
842
719


Inverness
76
119
133
152
164


Jedburgh/Duns
13
28
32
33
36


Kilmarnock
67
107
93
117
165


Kirkcaldy
187
215
243
203
229


Kirkcudbright
10
5
5
5
15


Kirkwall
14
11
16
7
2


Lanark
55
80
84
75
112


Lerwick
29
15
25
18
18


Linlithgow
219
240
421
219
205


Lochmaddy
5
9
3
6
7


Oban
23
24
33
33
36


Paisley
336
457
547
480
516


Peebles
6
13
20
10
15


Perth
208
275
260
249
258


Peterhead
65
62
65
33
37


Portree
6
8
13
9
12


Rothesay
5
7
9
12
8


Selkirk
18
33
47
34
29


Stirling
125
187
198
177
176


Stonehaven
17
26
17
20
11


Stornoway
20
15
21
25
27


Stranraer
30
34
19
39
45


Tain
31
18
24
19
18


Wick
9
17
23
14
30


Total
6,846
8,063
9,494
8,956
8,726

Justice

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average time to process a case in each sheriff court was in each of the last five years.

Cathy Jamieson: Sheriff courts handle a range of civil and criminal business, but the largest component of it is summary criminal cases. The average time to process summary criminal cases concluded in each sheriff court in each of the last five financial years is shown in the following table.

  Summary Cases - Duration From First Calling to Conclusion (Average Weeks)

  

Court
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05


Aberdeen
19
21
21
24
25


Airdrie
21
23
22
19
26


Alloa
26
30
28
35
33


Arbroath
18
15
19
18
22


Ayr
17
19
20
23
23


Banff
14
18
18
19
24


Campbeltown
20
17
15
16
13


Cupar
18
20
19
19
19


Dingwall
14
19
15
14
16


Dornoch
16
15
15
14
14


Dumbarton
21
21
23
21
19


Dumfries
12
11
12
13
10


Dundee
23
22
23
23
25


Dunfermline
16
17
18
14
18


Dunoon
36
27
29
24
25


Edinburgh
22
22
22
20
18


Elgin
13
15
18
19
20


Falkirk
19
18
22
15
18


Forfar
14
16
16
18
19


Fort William
13
11
13
13
15


Glasgow
28
28
33
34
29


Greenock
21
28
30
31
34


Haddington
20
20
24
26
24


Hamilton
26
30
33
29
30


Inverness
16
18
20
20
21


Jedburgh/Duns
11
16
17
17
18


Kilmarnock
12
14
13
15
17


Kirkcaldy
23
23
28
27
27


Kirkcudbright
13
16
11
10
10


Kirkwall
12
15
12
10
10


Lanark
12
13
14
20
21


Lerwick
18
19
17
14
10


Linlithgow
23
24
25
18
20


Lochmaddy
15
9
7
15
16


Oban
14
15
15
15
21


Paisley
21
28
26
24
33


Peebles
8
10
15
15
17


Perth
26
25
19
19
24


Peterhead
18
18
22
21
14


Portree
10
16
17
13
11


Rothesay
18
13
19
23
22


Selkirk
10
16
15
16
16


Stirling
22
24
23
22
23


Stonehaven
12
12
13
11
12


Stornoway
19
14
16
13
12


Stranraer
10
14
16
13
13


Tain
13
14
14
12
13


Wick
11
12
11
11
12

Planning

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what increased rights communities will have under the proposed Planning Bill.

Johann Lamont: The White Paper Modernising the Planning System sets out our proposals for increasing community involvement in the planning system. We are currently considering responses to the white paper as part of the preparation for the introduction of a Planning Bill later this parliamentary year.

Police

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place with chief constables concerning the recruitment, selection and employment of female police surgeons.

Cathy Jamieson: The recruitment of female police surgeons is a matter for the Chief Constable. No recent discussions have taken place on this matter.

Racism

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has allocated to community-led anti-racist initiatives in each year since 2002, broken down by initiative.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive is committed to tackling racism, discrimination and disadvantage and to promoting race equality. It provides a range of funding to support organisations working in these areas. Whilst a number of organisations which receive funding are engaged in anti-racist activities, this may not be their exclusive function. The following information shows those community-led projects in receipt of funding for race equality work, which in some cases, will incorporate anti-racist activities.

  The following table one shows those voluntary sector organisations which have received funding from Scottish Executive departments/agencies:

  Table One

  

Organisation
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
Total (£)


Amina Muslim Women’s Resource Centre
-
-
-
50,444
50,444
100,888


Black and Minority Ethnic Elders Group, Scotland
-
-
-
10,000
-
10,000


BEMIS 
112,008
171,249
174,340
200,000
200,000
857,597


FRAE Fife
131,111
133,339
138,404
141,073
-
543,927*


Glasgow Anti-Racist Alliance (GARA)
696,492
788,592
563,150
815,206
-
2,863,440*


Meridian
 
 
 
25,000
 
25,000


Minority Ethnic Carers of Older People (MECOP)
-
6,000
44,000
14,175
-
64,175


Positive Action in Housing (PAiH) 
48,968
31,193
109,973
72,307
82,735
345,176*


Positive Action for Training in Housing (PATH) 
26,584
32,232
138,760
143,260
145,760
486,596*


Roshni
 
 
 
 
14,955
14,955


Scottish Gypsy/Traveller Association
 
3,000
 
 
 
3,000


Grand Total (£)
5,314,754



  Note: *Includes whole or part-funding from Communities Scotland.

  The following table two shows those voluntary sector organisations or local initiatives which have received funding from organisations that are funded by Scottish Executive departments/agencies:

  Table Two

  

Organisations
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
Total (£)


Ayrshire and Arran Primary Care Trust: West Scotland Racial Equality Council
2,500
-
2,500
2,500
-
7,500


BEMIS: Consortium of training providers
-
-
-
-
20,000
20,000


City of Edinburgh Council: Shakti Women’s Aid
-
-
-
21,752
43,647
65,399


Fife Health Board: FRAE Fife
-
-
-
-
10,300
10,300


Fife Primary Care NHS Trust: Fife Interpreting Service
10,000
12,000
-
-
-
22,000


Grampian NHS Board: Grampian Racial Equality Council
-
10,000
10,300
10,610
10,950
41,860


Greater Glasgow Health Board: Pakistan Forum, Scotland
5,000
-
-
-
-
5,000


Lothian NHS Board: Edinburgh Elderly Chinese
-
-
-
10,540
11,022
21,562


Lothian NHS Board: Interpretation and Translation Service
-
59,000
60,559
82,191
-
201,750


Lothian NHS: Nari Kallyan Shango
-
-
-
-
23,000
23,000


Lothian NHS Board: MECOP
14,000
13,000
-
50,306
23,259
100,565


Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley: Central Scotland Racial Equality Council
-
-
-
1,116
862
1,978


Grand Total (£)
520,914



  Funding is also available to voluntary sector organisations from those grants administered on behalf of the Scottish Executive by the Voluntary Action Fund (VAF). In the following, table three shows the amounts given from each grant to minority ethnic community organisations. Further details on the projects funded are available from VAF.

  Table Three

  

Scheme
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
Total £


Voluntary Action Fund: Main Grant Programme
18,685
48,087
78,467
100,837
246,076


Ethnic Minorities Grant Scheme: Main Grant
244,129
261,312
371,157
319,100
1,196,498


EMGS: Capacity Building Grant Scheme
-
63,080
27,559
76,035
166,674


EMGS: Small Grant Scheme
-
92,819
47,759
-
140,578


Valuing Volunteers Grant Scheme
-
7,930
9,094
6,720
23,744


Grand Total (£)
1,773,570 



  The Scottish Executive also funds local projects which assist with the integration of refugees into their host communities. Details of the grants awarded from the Scottish Refugee Integration Fund, which has been in existence since 2003, may be viewed on our website:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Equality/Refugees-asylum/support

  Last year the Scottish Executive conducted a review of race equality work in Scotland. I have recently received the final recommendations from my officials about how the review should be taken forward and soon I intend to set out my vision and intentions for taking work forward in this area.

Renewable Energy

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to make a decision regarding Greenock Wind Farm.

Allan Wilson: The findings and recommendations of the inquiry reporter were received on 8 September 2005 and are now being considered by the Executive.

  A determination on the application for consent will be announced and the report made public, once that process has been completed.

Roads

Mr Andrew Arbuckle (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing guidelines on the removal of roadside memorials and shrines following a suitable period for mourning.

Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive, working in conjunction with the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) and the Society for Chief Officers in Transportation in Scotland (SCOTS), has developed guidelines on roadside memorials. A copy of the guidelines, which are similar for both trunk and local roads, are in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Roads

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18361 by Tavish Scott on 5 September 2005, what specific data have been collected on the work of the Camphill communities and from what sources these data have been acquired.

Tavish Scott: In addition to gathering information from the Medical Director and staff in written and oral reports and from escorted visits, information has been obtained by canvassing opinions and interviewing officials in local authorities who refer children to Camphill Rudolph Steiner Schools and on their policy towards Newton Dee. Background information has also been obtained from published literature and from websites.

Roads

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many accidents involving injury were attributed to weather conditions including snow and ice on each trunk road in each of the last five years.

Tavish Scott: Prior to 2005 there was no requirement for police authorities to supply accident contributory factors as part of the Stats 19 returns which form the national database. The figures supplied represent those injury accidents which were recorded with weather factors of snow or ice present on each trunk road in each of the last five years (January 2000 to December 2004).

  

Trunk Road
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004


M73
1
0
2
0
0


M74
8
13
7
5
12


M77
1
0
0
0
0


M8
12
6
8
3
6


M80
0
1
0
1
3


M823
0
0
0
1
0


M876
0
0
0
0
1


M898
0
0
0
0
0


M9
0
1
1
2
2


M90
2
7
1
3
4


A1
0
2
0
0
2


A6091
0
2
0
0
0


A68
2
2
1
0
4


A7
3
3
2
0
3


A701
0
1
3
0
2


A702
4
3
4
2
2


A720
3
0
1
2
1


A725
1
2
2
2
1


A726
0
0
0
0
0


A737
3
6
1
1
0


A738
0
0
0
0
0


A75
2
4
2
1
4


A751
0
0
0
0
0


A76
4
6
1
2
3


A77
2
3
4
4
4


A78
1
2
2
7
5


A8
1
1
0
4
1


A80
3
0
0
0
4


A82
2
9
3
5
10


A828
0
0
2
0
1


A83
4
4
2
5
5


A830
1
1
1
1
0


A835
0
3
1
5
4


A84
1
2
0
1
1


A85
6
5
4
7
4


A86
0
2
0
1
2


A87
4
3
1
0
1


A876
0
0
0
0
0


A887
0
2
0
0
2


A889
0
0
0
0
0


A893
0
0
0
0
0


A898
0
1
0
0
0


A9
18
9
11
17
13


A90
9
19
5
22
13


A92
4
1
3
4
3


A95
3
3
3
5
1


A96
3
8
6
8
7


A972
0
0
0
0
0


A977
0
0
0
0
0


A985
0
0
0
0
0


A99
0
2
0
1
3


Total
108
139
84
122
134



  The figures quoted may differ slightly from those published elsewhere because they were extracted on a different date and the database may have changed between the two dates, e.g. due to late returns or corrections to earlier returns.

Roads

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-32236 by Lewis Macdonald on 16 December 2002, what the figures for traffic levels on the A9 trunk road between Perth and Inverness have been in each month in the last five years.

Tavish Scott: The figures below have been extracted from the Scottish Roads Traffic Database from January 2000 to July 2005. The figures are two-way flows (i.e. northbound flows and southbound flows combined) and are the average daily flow.

  2000

  

A9 Location
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December


Luncarty
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Birnam
8,587
9,087
9,684
11,119
12,369
12,623
14,253
14,696
11,992
9,526
 
 


Moulinearn
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Killiecrankie
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Glen Garry
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Dalnaspidal
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Dalwhinnie
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7,649
7,736
 
 


Kingussie
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Aviemore
 
 
 
 
6,389
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Tomatin
5,140
5,818
6,402
7,581
7,728
8,176
8,118
9,656
7,767
7,391
6,098
5,890


N Kessock
 
 
 
 
 
24,369
24,821
26,654
23,401
22,406
21,702
21,506



  2001

  

A9 Location
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December


Luncarty
10,581
11,349
12,306
15,000
15,621
 
16,857
18,433
 
 
 
11,775


Birnam
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10,052
 


Moulinearn
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Killiecrankie
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Glen Garry
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Dalnaspidal
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Dalwhinnie
4,945
5,572
6,076
7,861
7,984
8,496
9,660
10,386
8,717
7,986
6,370
5,814


Kingussie
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Aviemore
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Tomatin
5,109
5,259
6,114
7,054
7,387
7,360
6,972
8,552
8,368
 
6,711
6,320


N Kessock
19,715
19,704
21,969
23,552
24,632
25,301
25,486
27,235
24,688
23,767
23,263
21,875



  2002

  

A9 Location
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December


Luncarty
10,950
12,466
14,146
15,103
15,996
17,283
17,530
19,002
16,192
14,929
13,563
1,2771


Birnam
8,178
9,839
11,523
12,407
13,379
13,930
15,173
16,479
13,973
12,770
 
 


Moulinearn
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Killiecrankie
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Glen Garry
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Dalnaspidal
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Dalwhinnie
5,250
6,206
7,230
7,675
8,501
9,156
9,945
10,909
8,842
8,136
6,681
6,334


Kingussie
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Aviemore
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Tomatin
5,822
6,361
7,234
7,758
8,374
8,913
9,605
10,519
8,867
8,186
7,349
6,640


N Kessock
20,964
22,029
23,840
24,701
25,915
26,032
26,798
28,601
25,926
26,271
 
 



  2003

  

A9 Location
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December


Luncarty
 
12,747
12,339
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
13,147
12,705


Birnam
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Moulinearn
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10,287
9,748


Killiecrankie
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7,501
7,088


Glen Garry
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6,440
6,158


Dalnaspidal
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6,574
6,180


Dalwhinnie
5,470
6,190
6,937
8,727
8,686
9,078
10,109
11,305
9,187
8,612
6,621
6,196


Kingussie
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6,143
5,782


Aviemore
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5,756
5,359


Tomatin
5,786
6,508
6,300
8,664
8,439
7,980
8,478
10,986
9,192
8,358
7,185
6,876


N Kessock
 
14,044
15,561
14,997
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



  2004

  

A9 Location
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December


Luncarty
11,473
13,197
13,922
16,607
16,543
16,779
18,616
17,992
16,967
16,350
14,211
13,340


Birnam
8,765
10,464
11,117
13,705
13,664
13,749
15,703
15,052
14,041
13,473
11,340
10,623


Moulinearn
8,661
10,447
11,114
13,845
13,975
14,282
16,478
15,933
14,474
13,562
11,098
10,206


Killiecrankie
7,516
7,678
7,816
9,879
9,605
9,975
11,680
11,736
10,232
9,864
7,984
7,435


Glen Garry
5,360
6,430
6,866
8,791
8,556
8,934
10,453
10,250
9,100
8,740
6,847
6,490


Dalnaspidal
5,371
6,418
6,877
8,835
8,657
8,984
10,498
10,302
9,134
8,753
6,847
6,498


Dalwhinnie
5,391
6,484
6,928
8,913
8,710
9,105
10,632
10,436
9,225
8,826
6,907
6,537


Kingussie
5,030
6,047
6,247
7,567
7,295
7,627
9,115
8,944
8,085
7,884
6,210
5,882


Aviemore
4,533
5,376
5,957
7,107
6,844
7,288
8,382
8,324
7,571
7,262
6,033
5,661


Tomatin
5,951
6,853
7,478
8,930
8,912
9,416
10,402
10,717
9,292
8,746
7,601
7,277


N Kessock
 
 
 
 
28,446
28,406
28,792
29,320
 
26,062
26,016
25,202



  2005

  

A9 Location 
January
February
March
April
May
June
July


Luncarty
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Birnam
9,395
10,874
12,437
13,345
14,122
14,554
16,085


Moulinearn
9,012
10,539
12,173
13,150
14,207
14,735
16,588


Killiecrankie
6,427
7,565
8,694
9,309
9,966
10,392
11,842


Glen Garry
5,580
6,613
7,645
8,260
8,897
9,299
10,652


Dalnaspidal
5,588
6,627
7,671
8,284
8,941
9,338
10,691


Dalwhinnie
5,270
6,239
7,149
7,639
8,144
8,462
9,651


Kingussie
5,098
6,025
6,856
7,314
7,087
 
9,142


Aviemore
4,816
5,577
6,497
7,003
7,184
7,544
8,451


Tomatin
5,961
6,931
7,832
8,285
8,843
9,395
10,265


N Kessock
 
 
24,769
26,866
27,767
28,549
29,191

Speed Cameras

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what income was generated from speed cameras in each police force area in the last five years.

Cathy Jamieson: The information available relates to cameras operating within the Scottish Safety Camera Programme as given in the following table.

  Revenue (£) Generated from Speed Cameras Operating within the Scottish Safety Camera Programme

  

Partnership
2000-011
2001-021
2002-032
2003-043


Strathclyde
449,680
860,960
1,464,720
3,453,524


Fife
-
-
421,740
618,540


North East
-
-
278,160
1,012,860


Lothian and Borders
-
-
-
1,616,564


Tayside
-
-
-
388,200


Dumfries and Galloway
-
-
-
545,400



  Notes:

  1. Pilot project involving Strathclyde – area covered by Glasgow City Council only.

  2. Strathclyde partnership expands to cover four local authorities, Fife joins programme April 2002, North East Partnership joins October 2002.

  3. Strathclyde Partnership expands to cover 12 local authorities, Dumfries and Galloway joins July 2003, Lothian and Borders joins July 2003, Tayside joins July 2003.

  Income generated from other speed cameras operating outside of the programme in any year cannot be identified separately in the statistics held centrally.

Teachers

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of any shortfall in numbers of qualified Gaelic teachers to meet the current demand.

Peter Peacock: In 2005-06, there were five secondary probationers available to fill three places in Gaelic medium secondary education offered by local authorities. In primary education, 16 probationers were available to fill 19 places.

Tourism

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to encourage tourists to visit locations outwith the central belt.

Patricia Ferguson: VisitScotland’s marketing programmes are aimed at increasing the volume and value of tourism right across Scotland. Each area has its own distinctive attributes and attractions, which VisitScotland will continue to market strongly as part of its product portfolio, at both a local and national level.